A Social Security Administration branch is considering the following two options for processing applications for social security cards: Option 1 Three clerks process applications in parallel from a...

A Social Security Administration branch is considering the following two options for processing applications for social security cards:

Option 1 Three clerks process applications in parallel from a single queue. Each clerk fills out the form for the application in the presence of the applicant. Processing time is exponential with a mean of 15 minutes. Interarrival times are exponential.

Option 2 Each applicant first fills out an application without the clerk’s help. The time to accomplish this is exponentially distributed, with a mean of 65 minutes. When the applicant has filled out the form, he or she joins a single line to wait for one of the three clerks to check the form. It takes a clerk an average of 4 minutes (exponentially distributed) to review an application.

The interarrival time of applicants is exponential, and an average of 4.8 applicants arrive each hour. Which option will get applicants out of the office more quickly?